French ambassador to Vietnam Jean-Noël Poirier presents the Legion of Honor to doctor Nguyen Thi Hoi at the Consulate General of France in Ho Chi Minh City on Thursday. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Associate Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Hoi on Thursday was bestowed the Legion of Honor, France’s highest distinction, for her contributions to the health sector and charity work during the past 27 years.

French ambassador to Vietnam Jean-Noël Poirier granted the outstanding award to Hoi, former deputy head of the Ho Chi Minh City Pasteur Institute, at the Consulate General of France in the city.

The 81-year-old doctor, who is now deputy chairwoman of the Vietnam-France Friendship Association in HCMC, has raised nearly US$2.75 million from the French government and non-government organizations for 312 charity projects through Vietnam so far.